‘We joined RHI in good faith’

The Bedeck bed linen company in Magheralin said it signed up for the controversial Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme in “good faith” and is disappointed at the subsequent negative publicity.

The family-owned firm, which was founded in 1951, said it invested “hundreds of thousands of pounds” to have four biomass boilers installed under the scheme.

It employs 90 people at its factory shop and warehouse on the Lurgan Road, and is one of 18 local companies (BT62-BT67) named in the list of beneficiaries.

Bedeck is listed as having so far received just over £100,000 in subsidies for the boilers, which were applied for in June 2015.

Financial director Matt Myers said the Magheralin site had previously used old, inefficient oil boilers to heat the premises and had reached the point where they needed to be replaced.

He said, “They needed an increasing amount of maintenance and it was having a negative impact on efficiency and the environment.

“RHI seemed to be a good scheme which would help the profitability of the business in what is a very competitive environment.

“We took out a bank loan for most of the value of the boilers, and entered the RHI scheme in good faith, so the negative publicity has been disappointing.”

He added, “We use less fuel with the biomass pellets than we did with the oil, and only use the heating when we have to.”

The list, released by the Department of the Economy, includes the names of all companies that have received support payments under the scheme above a threshold of £5,000, since it opened in 2012 to February 28, 2017.

There is no suggestion that any of those on the list are in breach of either the spirit or the letter of the scheme.

Other companies listed include Legmore Farms, which raises poultry and is registered at the offices of McCleary & Co at Quaker Buildings, High Street, Lurgan. It has received a total of £293,496 for four boilers.

Silverwood Enterprises, at Silverwood Industrial Estate, has received £86,957 for three boilers and Sainsbury’s Craigavon received payments of £24,221.85 for one boiler.